India face “the Ashwin question”, West Indies another batting examination

West Indies have crossed 300 twice, with a highest of 415 during their historic series win over England to regain the Frank Worrell Trophy earlier this year. On the evidence of what was on display in Antigua, they did not even give themselves a chance to make half the batting impact they had in that series (their run of scores: 289, 415, 206, 17 for no loss, 154 and 252).

As was the case then, the bowling seems to be coming along well. Kemar Roach, with 2.0, is often in unplayable territory with the new ball. Shannon Gabriel has cranked up pace and intensity; while a fit -again Keemo Paul, coming in for Miguel Cummins, has proven to be more than just a support bowler.
The same cannot be said about the batting. West Indies’ inability to stick around and fight has been exposed repeatedly at the slightest hint of being under pressure. For inspiration, they need only look back to the 2016 Jamaica Test, when Roston Chase, playing in only his second Test, stonewalled India on the final day as West Indies sneaked out an honourable draw. They would do well to emulate that resolve against a formidable bowling attack, which is showing no signs of letting up.
India are faced with ‘the R. Ashwin question’. Ravindra Jadeja has done enough to enhance his reputation as a Test batsman over time, and sent down overs of fast left-arm spin like the way he does it: fast, with some bite as the surface tires; but, surely, Ashwin’s 24 wickets in seven overseas Tests at 30.16 in 2018 present a compelling case. Two of his four Test centuries came on the previous tour of the West Indies, and a stint in county cricket earlier in the season is enough evidence of Ashwin being match ready.
As things stand, India will need to ask themselves if they want to play two spinners and possibly leave out Mohammed Shami, or play either Ashwin or Jadeja and three pacers.
KL Rahul’s Test berth was hanging by a thread, until it was somewhat revived by Prithvi Shaw’s dope suspension and India’s long white-ball season, wherein he struck some kind of form. In Antigua, he made scores of 44 and 38. There are two ways of looking at this: he got off to starts, or that he didn’t convert. What he did right, though, is that he got into better positions, seemed to have better balance, and did not dangle his bat out indecisively. The second Test is another opportunity for him to correct that and produce a big knock.
Kraigg Brathwaite’s defensive game borders on the unorthodox. Not many opening batsmen get square on the way he does and yet find a way to blunt bowlers day in and day out. But he hasn’t scored a century for 17 innings now. Against a quality attack, he is needed to blunt the new ball and allow the middle order the luxury of coming in without having to rebuild. Maybe he can draw inspiration from his previous Test visit to Sabina Park, wherein he made the last of his eight Test hundreds.
Hanuma Vihari’s 93 is sure to keep Rohit Sharma on the bench again, barring a last-minute injury shuffle. India could also consider bringing in R Ashwin for Mohammed Shami, and play two spinners, two pacers.
India (probable XI): 1 KL Rahul, 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Hanuma Vihari, 7 Rishabh Pant, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
West Indies will make a forced change, with Keemo Paul replacing Miguel Cummins. They may consider strengthening their bowling by possibly looking at the uncapped Rahkeem Cornwall in place of Shamarh Brooks.
West Indies (probable XI): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 John Campbell, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Shai Hope, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Rahkeem Cornwall, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel. (Excerpt from Cricinfo)